UPDATED VISITATION SCHEDULE
UPDATED VISITATION DUE TO SICKNESS IN FAMILY New Visitation: Wednesday, July 17th, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Robert Earl Stoveken, known to most as Bob, passed away peacefully and with dignity on June 30, 2024, at the age of 83, in his community of Red Bank, NJ. The son of Earl Albert and Dorothy Louise …
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UPDATED VISITATION DUE TO SICKNESS IN FAMILY
New Visitation: Wednesday, July 17th, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Robert Earl Stoveken, known to most as Bob, passed away peacefully and with dignity on June 30, 2024, at the age of 83, in his community of Red Bank, NJ. The son of Earl Albert and Dorothy Louise (Both) Stoveken, Bob was born in Jersey City on December 26, 1940, which made him a member of the Silent Generation—yet he was anything but that. Outgoing and boisterous, with a zest for life, a joyous laugh, and an uncanny knack for good-natured teasing, Bob was beloved by virtually everyone he encountered.
Bob was a graduate of Bloomfield High School, and in his later years he enjoyed going to the class reunions and reconnecting with his fellow classmates, lamenting that each year their number was diminished, but excited that the next one was to take place at the high school itself, providing college scholarships to current high schoolers in need.
Bob honorably served his country as a member of the U.S. Army Engineering Corps and was stationed in Korea. He has the unique distinction of being perhaps the only soldier in U.S. military history who felt that the food in the army was actually good. He subsequently attended Newark College of Engineers and worked for twenty years at DuPont in Parlin, New Jersey.
Bob met the love of his life, Ruth Ellen Benson, in Orange, NJ. He asked for her phone number, declining to write it down and insisting that he would remember it—and remember it he did, leading to their eventual nuptials on July 16, 1966.
Not afraid of hard work, Bob became a partner in a commercial lobster fishing business in the Atlantic Highlands, NJ, and took his boat out into the challenging waters off the Jersey coast to drop and retrieve his traps. He and Ruth worked tirelessly for 5 years in this venture before Bob went back into engineering.
Once Bob and Ruth had had enough fun and freedom, they decided to begin a family. Their daughter, Sheryl Lynne, was born in 1969, and later, they happily welcomed another child, their son, Scott Robert, in 1979. Bob is survived by Ruth and Sheryl and Scott; as well as his son-in-law Theodore Allen of Montclair; grandson Benjamin Allen; granddaughter Nina Allen; sister Jane Kuhl and her husband Jim of Toms River; eight nieces and three nephews. Bob was predeceased by his parents; a sister, Susan Ball; and brother-in-law William Ball.
Bob was a member of numerous clubs and organizations, including the Republican Club and the Running Buds, and served as a committeeman in Greentown, PA. Bob was vigorous and astonishingly active his entire life and enjoyed running, biking the Hudson trail, swimming, shooting, golfing, sailing, playing games, and spending time with his grandchildren as they struggled to keep up with a man more than six decades their senior.
Bob was amazingly mechanically minded, and was undaunted to take on nearly any home improvement project. He was extremely generous with his time to help out anyone who needed his skills and passed along his vast knowledge, refinishing multiple basements, bathrooms, and kitchens along with his family.
His other activities included coaching baseball and basketball, volunteering for various Veterans organizations, participating in half a dozen marathons and multiple triathlons, and kayaking. He also enjoyed sailing with his family on his boat, the Benina, on Lake Wallenpaupack in Pennsylvania for many years.
Bob also started and operated his own business for many years, RES Tax and Investment Services. He was so considerate and helpful that many of his clients became friends as well, and they would call him at all hours to ask for not only financial advice, but also to hear his friendly voice asking after them and their families. Bob was always kind and patient, willing to offer his thoughts and advice on any subject—even when the phone rang during his backswing.
The guy was a legend. He will be missed by so, so, so many.
A service of remembrance will be held from 1-4 p.m. on Wednesday, July 17th, at the Holmdel Funeral Home, 26 South Holmdel Road, Holmdel, NJ 07733. Those who wish to make donations in his memory may do so to the Fisher House Foundation (fisherhouse.org.)
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